A man accused of stealing “a communal crime car” used in an arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue has been arrested and charged, with Victoria police also alleging he blocked detectives from accessing apps on his phone.
The attack on the ultra-Orthodox Adass Israel synagogue in December is still being investigated as a politically motivated attack by the Victorian joint counter-terrorism team, which includes representatives from the federal police and the domestic spy agency, Asio.
The man, 20, was arrested in the Melbourne suburb of Williamstown on Wednesday and has been charged with theft of a blue VW Golf in November, which police allege was later used by those involved in the attack on the Adass Israel synagogue and other crime.
He was also charged with failing to comply with a police order under the Crimes Act to provide detectives with access to applications on his phone.
Leaders of the Adass community were briefed on the situation by senior members of Victoria police, including lead investigators, shortly after the arrest on Wednesday. They have been briefed on an almost weekly basis.
So far, police have not arrested anyone accused of ordering or carrying out the attack. On Thursday, the Age reported the investigation had “stalled”, in part due to the use of encrypted technology concealing the identities of those involved.
Victoria police did not comment on the use of encrypted technology, but said the investigation remained a priority and was still being investigated as a likely terrorist attack.
After the arrest, police searched a home in the suburb of Melton South, where detectives seized “items subject to further investigation”.
Previously described as a “communal crime car” by police, officials say the vehicle was also used in an arson attack at the Lux nightclub in Melbourne’s South Yarra in November as well as a shooting in Bundoora the same night as the synagogue fire.
The nightclub fire and shooting are being investigated by Victoria police and are not considered politically motivated.
The car has also been linked to “a number of serious and violent crimes” including aggravated burglaries and “petrol drive-offs” in Brunswick, Cranbourne North, Caulfield South and Hampton.
In May, police said that car had been fitted with cloned plates.
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Police said CCTV footage of the attack on the Adass Israel synagogue showed a “blue Golf … drive past the Adass Israel synagogue multiple times before parking outside the main entrance on 6 December 2024”.
A CCTV image from December’s Adass Israel arson attack shows a car allegedly used by the perpetrators. Photograph: Australian Federal Police
Police said the footage then showed “three individuals dressed in hoodies and masks get out of the vehicle and use an axe to damage the entrance of the synagogue”, and “at least two individuals commence pouring the contents of red jerry cans inside the entrance of the synagogue, before entering the building”.
“It shows the individuals making multiple trips to the Golf to get more jerry cans, which were poured inside the synagogue before the liquid was ignited.”
Police allege one person recorded the attack on their phone.
The 20-year-old man was granted conditional bail and will appear in court on 3 October.